Tense-Aspect Combinations in English

Present Perfect Type 2— Experience

• Compare—
• Present Perfect
• A: I have served a mission.
• B: Oh really? How was it?
• Simple Past
• A: I served a mission.
• B: Oh really? When?

• Although the distinction is not absolute, present perfect seems to focus more on WHAT HAPPENED, and simple past allows more focus on WHEN.

Present Perfect Type 3— Results

• Compare—
• Present Perfect
• I have broken my watch.
• Simple Past
• I broke my watch.
• Note: In the case of RESULTS, Present Perfect and Simple Past have almost the same meaning.

Present Perfect Type 3— Results

• Compare—
• Present Perfect
• I have decided not to marry you.
• Simple Past
• I decided not to marry you.
• Note: Both sentences make sense, and the meaning is essentially the same; however, Present Perfect slightly emphasizes the RESULTS of the action and not the action itself.

Present Perfect Type 4— Immediate Past

• Compare—
• Present Perfect
• I have just finished my homework.
• Simple Past
• I finished my homework.
• Note: Both sentences make sense, and, in some cases, both may have the same meaning. However, Present Perfect emphasizes that the action finished IMMEDIATELY BEFORE NOW—just a moment ago.

Present Perfect—Reinforced by Certain Adverbs

• A “box” of time, reinforced by—
• for, since, all my life, and a few others.
• Experience, reinforced by—
• ever, never, already, yet, before, and a few others.
• Result, reinforced by—
• None in particular.
• Immediate past, reinforced by—
• just